Gumming mechanism for envelope-making machines



Aug. 23, 1932. c. F. PFLANZE GUMMII IG MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES Filed July :51, 1,950

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 o a) a v @w J O 3M, J m a f 1 mm NM z Aug. 23, 1932. c, PFLANZE 1,873,850

GUMMING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES Filed July 31, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Afro/PA v Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNETED STATES rsnsse PATENT OFFIFCE CHARLES F. PFLANZE, OF WEBSTER (itROVES, MISSOURI GUMMING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE-MAKING MACHINES Application filed July 31,

.. have been employed which were intended to gum envelope blanks to their precise outer edges, and which in some cases did so gum the blanks. However, due to the fact that in cutting out a stack of blanks with theaid of a die the blanks frequently vary in size,

7 gummed.

due to creeping of the stack of blanks during cutting thereof, it is not possible to set the mechanism of an envelope machine and time said mechanism so that the gum will extend to the precise edges of all of the blanks, when the blanks of a stack of blanks being gummed vary in size. Trouble has been encountered also in obtaining absolute coincidence between the gumming mechanism and the precise edges of blanks when said blanks are ummed singly instead of from a pile. This failure of coincidence between the gumming mechanism and the envelope blanks has resulted in the production of envelopes the flaps of which are notgummed to theprecise edges, or in the overlapping of'the edges of the flaps with gum, so that the gum is applied either to parts of the machine or other blanks of a stack of blanks being The gumming mechanism disclosed in the present application is so constructed and timed that a layer of gum is placed on an extended flap of the envelope made from the largest envelope blank then in process so that it extends to the extreme outer edge of said flap, and therefore, in the case of envelopes which are made from smaller blanks, the layers of gum overlap the outer edges of the flaps, and'the overlapping portions of said layersof gum are distributed on a. portion of 1930. Serial No. 471,938.

the machine over which the envelope passes and from which said excessive amount of gum is subsequently removed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations and modifications which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Fig. l is a vertical fragmentary section of my improved gumming mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section'on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower portion of the gumming mechanism as seen when viewed along the line 83 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, A designates oppositely disposed side members which form parts of the frame of an envelope-making machine of which my improved gumming mechanism forms a unit. The envelope-making machine includes a pair of supporting members B for the envelope blanks being acted upon, said supporting members B preferably being in the form of wires extended longitudinally of the envelope machine and of the direction of travel of the envelope blank therethrough,

D travel in horizontal parallelism with each other in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, and that said flights of said bands travel in close proximity to the supporting members B. E designates a blank from which an envelope is to be formed by the envelope-making machine, said blank, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, being supported by the members B. Formed on the endless bands G and D at the lower edges thereof is a plurality of hooks F which are spaced longitudinally of said bands (Fig. 1), said hooks being adapted to engage an edge of the envelope blank E, whereby said blank is moved longitudinally of the supporting members 13 and in contact therewith when movement is imparted to the endless bands by suitable mechanism (not shown) forming part of the envelope-making machine.

Arranged transversely of the machine and mounted for axial rotation in suitable bearings 1, supported by the side membersA, is a shaft 2, said shaft having rigidly fixed thereto at one end thereof a gear wheel 3 (Fig. 2). Arranged to surround the shaft 2 is a tubular member 1, said tubular member being capable of rotation with respect to said shaft 2 and having a pulley 5 rigidly fixed to it at one end thereof, which'end of said tubular member is so located with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the shaft as to cause said pulley to be positioned at the approximate transverse center of the machine. The tubular member 4: bears against ashoulder 2 formed on the shaft 2 to prevent movement of said tubular member longitudinally of said shaft.

Arranged above the shaft 2 and in approximate vertical alinement therewith is a second shaft 6, said shaft 6 being mounted for axial rotation in suitable bearings 7 supported by the side members A (Fig. 2) and having a gear wheel 8 rigidly fixed thereto at an end thereof, which gear wheel 8 is arranged in mesh with the gear wheel 3 associated with the shaft 2. The shaft 6 constitutes the drive shaft of the gumming mechanism, rotary motion being imparted thereto by gear wheels, or other suitable power transmission means (not shown), which operatively connect said shaft with operating parts of the envelope-making machines. Rotary motion is transmitted from the shaft 6 to the shaft 2 by a Geneva movement G, said Geneva movement comprising the usual member 9 provided with radial slots 10, which member is rigidly fixed to the shaft 2. T he member 9 is provided also with the usual arcuate faces 11. Rigidly fixed to the shaft 6 is the member 12, which ordinarily comprises an element of a Geneva movement, this member having a depression which includes an arcuate face 13. Also, the Geneva movement G includes a disk 14: of a slightly greater diameter than the member 1 said disk being arranged in close proximity to the member 12, as shown in Fig. 2, and being yrovided with a pin 15 whichis arranged to pass into and outof the radial slots 10 in the member 9 mounted on the shaft 2 to impart movement to said member 9.

Arranged below the shaft 2, and in approximate vertical alinement therewith, is a shaft 16, said shaft 16 being arranged in parallel relation with the shaft 2 and being mounted for axial rotation in bearings 17 supported by oppositely disposed walls of a receptacle 18. Rigidly fixed on the shaft 16 is a pulley 19 of approximately the same dimensions as the pulley 5 fixed to the tubular member 4, said pulleys 5 and 19 being vertically alined with respect to each other. Arranged to operate over the pulleys 5 and 19 is an endless belt 20, said endless belt being of substantial width, as shown in Fig. 2. The bottom wall of the receptacle 18 is preferably curved when viewed in cross-section, as shown in Fig. l, and said receptacle contains an amount of fluid 21 adapted to cleanse the endless belt 20 as the same passetherethrough.

22 designates a shaft which is located above and to one side of the shaft 16, said shaft 22 being mounted for axial rotation in bearings 22 supported by the receptacle 18 (Fig. 1) and having a rotary brush 23 rigidly fixed thereto, so that it will rotate therewith, and the outer ends of the bristles of the rotary brush are adapted to contact with the endless belt 20 as said brush is rotated. Rigi dly fixed to the shaft 22 at an end thereof is a pulley 2d, and fixed to the shaft 2 is a similar but relatively large pulley 25. 26 designates an endless belt which. operates over the pulleys 24c and 25, whereby rotary motion is transmitted from the shaft 2 to the shaft 22 to impart rotary motion to said rotary brush 23 mounted thereon.

The flap E of the envelope black E (Fig. 3) is the flap to which gum is applied by my improved gumming mechanism, and a band of gum H, having the general shape of a letter V, is applied to the correspondingly shaped marginal edge portion of said flap. Referring now to the shaft 6, it will be noted that this shaft has rigidly fixed to it at its approximate longitudinal center a gum spread-er 27, said gum spreader comprising an elongated hub portion from which a more or less V-shaped flange 27 is extended outwardly. The outer face of the outwardly extended flange 27, when viewed-in end elevation (Fig. 1) is arranged on a curve drawn from the center of the shaft 6, and, as already stated, the outer face of said flange extends transversely of the machine in a more or less V-shaped form.

Arranged above the shaft 6 is av receptacle 28 wherein an amount of gum is maintained, said receptacle being supported by suitable supports 29 extended upwardly from the frame of the machine. 29 designates a frame composed of a pair of spaced side members which are pivoted at their rear ends to ears 30 extended upwar dly from the walls of the ated with the spaced side members is a shaft 31 on which a gum roll 32 is rigidly mounted, said gum roll being of such length that it fits within the receptacle 28, and the lower portion of said gum roll being submerged in the gum contained within said receptacle. Extended transversely of the frame 29 and mounted for axial rotation in bearings located at the outer ends of the side members 29" is a shaft 33 on which is fixed for rotation therewith a gum roll 34, and extended transversely of the frame 29 and mounted for axial rotation in bearings associated with the side members 29 is a shaft 35 on which an intermediate gum roll 36 is rigidly fixed.

The peripheral face of the intermediate gum .roll 36 is in contact with the gum roll 32 and with the gum roll 34, hence gum which adheres to the gum roll 32 as it passes through the body of gum within the receptacle 28 will be transmitted by the intermediate gum roll from said gum roll 32 to the gum roll 34. 37, 38 and 39 designate gear wheels'which are mounted on the shafts 31, 33, and 35, respectively, and are arranged in mesh with each other, whereby rotary motion will be transmitted from one to the other of said shafts. Fixed to the shaft 31 at the end thereof opposite to that end at which the gear wheel 37 is mounted is a pulley 40 (Fig. 2) over which a power transmission belt 41 operates. The end of the power transmission belt opposite to the end thereof which passes over the pulley 40 passes over a similar pulley (not shown) which is associated with a moving part of the envelope-making machine, whereby rotary motion is imparted to said pulley 40 and consequently to the shaft 31. By removing the power transmission belt from the pulley 40 the frame 29 may be tilted upwardly about its pivots to permit access to the receptacle 28.' I

In the operationof my improved gumming mechanism in conjunction with the envelope machine with which it is associated, envelope blanks will be moved longitudinally of the supporting members B by the hooks F carried by the endless bands C andD, as already explained. The shaft 6 is subjected to constant rotation, and once during every com plete revolution of the gum spreader 27 the outer V-shaped face of the flange 27 of said gum spreader will contact with the peripheral face of the gum roll 34, and gum which had been transmitted to said gum roll 34 from the gum roll 32 by the intermediate gum roll 36 will be transferred to said outer V-shaped face of the flange 27 As the flap E of the envelope blank approaches a point where the apex thereof is in close proximity to animaginary' perpendicular line H drawn through the centers of the shafts 2 and 6 in Fig, 1,

the outer face of the outwardly extended V-shaped flange 27 of the gum spreader 27 will move into contact with the flap E of the envelope blank E, and the timing of the movement of the parts of the machine and the width of the outer face of said V -shaped flange 27 are such that a portion. of the outer face of the V-shaped flange will contact with a portion of the flap E adjacent to the mar ginal edge of said flap to apply a strip, or band, of gum H to said flap E, the endless belt 20 against which the envelope blank E is pressed by the gum spreader 27 during the gumming operation being in motion at this time, as will subsequently appear herein.

In Fig. 3, I illustrate by means of dot and dash lines X the position of the outer face of the V-shaped flange 27 of the gum spreader 27 with respect to the flap E of the envelope blank E, and by referring to this view it will be noted that a porttion of the outer face of the V-shaped flange of the gum spreader extendsbeyond the edge of the flap E in an outward direction. This means that the band of gum H which is applied to the flap E by the gum spreader will extend to theextreme outer edge of the flap E of the envelope blank, and it means also that some of the gum carried by the outer face of the. V-shaped flange 27 of the gum spreader Willbe applied to the endless belt in contact with which the envelope blank is passing during the gum spreading operation.

As already stated, the shaft 6 is constantly rotated, and as the gum spreader 27 moves to a position where the outer face of the V- shaped flange 27 thereof is about to contact with the flap E of the envelope blank E, the pin 15 carried by the disk 14, which rotates with the shaft 6, will pass into one of the radial slots 10 in the member 9 fixed on' the shaft 2, and continued movement of the 'pin will impart rotary movement to the member 9, shaft 2, and endless belt 20, this movement of the member 9 continuing until the pin 15 passes from the slot 10 in which it is located when said slot reaches the opposite side of the shaft 2, during which movement gum will be applied to the flap E of the envelope blank. During the time at which the pin 15 is'passing through the upper portion of its circular course, the circumferential face of -the member 12 will be in contact with one of the arcuate faces between a pair of the radial slots 10, and hence rotary movement of the member 9 will be prevented due to the fact formed may project into said depression and thus permit rotation of the member 9. It is plain, therefore, that during the greater portion of each revolution of the shaft 6 the shaft 2 is stationary, and it is likewise plain that during a relatively small portion of each revo lution of said shaft 6 the shaft 2 is subjected to approximately one-fourth of a revolution. In view of this arrangement, it is obvious that the shaft 2 is intermittently driven, whereby the endless belt 20 is likewise subjected to intermittent movement.

As the flap E of each envelope blank E is gummed an amount of gum will be applied to the endless belt 20 and the intermittent movement of the endless belt will carry the gummed portion thereof beyond the point where the next succeeding envelope blank will contact with the said endless belt. The continued intermittent movement of the endless belt will result in the gummed portions there of eventually passing through the liquid within the receptacle 18, and said continued intermittent movement of said endless belt 20 will bring the gummed portions thereof into contact with the rotary brush 28, where the gum will be scrubbed from the endless belt.

hile I show only one rotary brush for cleaning the endless belt 20, it is to be understood that I may employ more than one of such devices without depar ing from the spirit of the invention, and also, the cleaning brush or brushes may be located as desired in the liquid within the receptacle 18, or outside of said receptacle. The fact that the endless belt may be slightly damp at the point where the gum is applied to the envelope blanks serves to prevent warping of the flaps of the envelopes, as said flaps are dampened on their opposite faces; that is, on their upper faces, by the moisture in the gum and on their opposite or lower faces by the damp endless belt.

While I have illustrated and described a precise envelope machine, I wish it to be understood that my invention is not limited to use with such a machine, as this machine was shown and described merely to illustrate one application of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a gumming mechanism for envelope-making machines, means for presenting envelope blanks one at a time to said gumming mechanism, said gumming mechanism comprising a gum-distributing element arranged to contact with an envelope blank at an edge portion thereof to apply gum thereto, said gum-distributing element being arranged to overlap the edge of the portion of the envelope blank to which gum is applied thereby to insure application of gum to the precise edge thereof.

2. In combination with a gumming mechanism for envelope-making machines, means for presenting envelope blanks one at a time revaseo to said gumming mechanism, said gumming mechanism comprising a gum distributing element arranged to contact with a flap of an envelope blank at an edge portion thereof to apply gum thereto, said gum-distributing element being of a shape which corresponds approximately with the shape of the edge portion of said flap to which gum is applied thereby and being arranged to overlap the edge of said flap to insure application of gum to the precise edge thereof.

3. A gumming mechanism for envelopemaking machines, comprising a gum distributing element arranged to contact with an envelope blank at an edge portion thereof to apply gum thereto, and a movable element between which and said gum-distributing element said envelope blank is interposed during the gumming operation, said gum-distributing element being arranged to overlap the edge of the portion of the envelope blank to which the gum is applied thereby to insure application of gum to the precise edge thereof, and the overlapping portion of said gmn-distributing element being arranged to contact with said movable element whereby gum is applied thereto.

4. A gumming mechanism for envelopemaking machines, comprising a gum-distributing element arranged to contact with an envelope blank at an edge portion thereof to apply gum thereto, and an intermittent- 1y movable element between which and said gum-distributing element said envelope blank is interposed during the gumming operation, said gunrdistributing element being arranged to overlap the edge of the portion of the envelope blank to which the gum is applied thereby to insure application of gum to the precise edge thereof, and the overlapping portion of said gum-distributing element being arranged to contact with said movable element whereby gum is applied thereto.

5. A gumming mechanism for envelopemaking machines, comprising a gum-distributing element arranged to contact with an envelope blank at an edge portion thereof to apply gum thereto, and an intermittentlymovable endless belt between. which and said gum-distributing element said envelope blank is interposed during the gumming operation, said gum-distributing element being arranged to overlap the edge of the portion of the envelope blank to which the gum is applied thereby to insure application of gum to the precise edge thereof, and the overlapping portion of said gum-distributing element being arranged to contact with said endless belt whereby gum is applied thereto.

6. A gumming mechanism for envelopemaking machines, comprising a gum-distributing element arranged to contact with an envelope blank at an edge portion thereof to apply gum thereto, a movable element between which and said gum-distributing element said envelope blank is interposed during the gumming operation, said gum-distributing element being arranged to overlap the edge of the portion of the envelope blank to which the gum is applied thereby to insure application of gum to the precise edge thereof, and the overlapping portion of said gum-distributing element being arranged to contact with said movable element whereby gum is applied thereto, and means whereby the gum applied to said movable element by said overlapping portion of said gum-distributing element is removed therefrom.

7. A gumming mechanism for envelopemaking machines, comprising a gum-distributing element arranged to contact with an envelope blank at an edge portion thereof to apply gum thereto, a movable element between which and said gum-distributing ele ment said envelope blank is interposed during the gumming operation, said gum-distributing element being arranged to overlapthe edge of the portion of the envelope blank to which the gum is applied thereby to insure application of gum to the precise edge thereof, and the overlapping portion of said gum-distributing element being arranged to contact with said movable element whereby gum is applied thereto, and means comprising a brush whereby the gum applied to said movable element by said overlapping portion of said gum-distributing element is removed therefrom.

8. A gumming mechanism for envelopemaking machines, comprising a gum-distributing element arranged to contact with an envelope blank at an edge portion thereof to apply gum thereto, a movable element between which and said gum-distributing element said envelope blank is interposed during the gumming operation, said gum-distributing element being arranged to overlap the edge of the portion of the envelopeblank to which the gum is applied thereby to insure application of gum to the precise edge there of, and the overlapping portion of said gumdistributing element being arranged to contact with said movable element whereby gum is applied thereto, and means comprising a movable brush whereby the gum applied to said movable element by said overlapping portion. of said gum-distributing element is removed therefrom.

9. A gumming mechanism for envelopemaking machines, comprising a gum-distributing element arranged to contact with an envelope blank at an edge portion thereof to apply gum thereto, a movable elementbetween which and said gum-distributing 'element said envelope blank is interposed during the gumming operation, said gum-dis' tributing element being arranged to overlap the edge of the portion of the envelope blank to which the gum is applied thereby to-insure application of gum tothe precise edge thereof, and the overlapping portion of said gumdistributing element being arranged to contact with said movable element whereby gum is applied thereto, and means comprising a rotary brush whereby the gum applied to said to which the gum is applied thereby to insure application ofgum to the precise edge thereof, and the overlapping portion of said gumdistributmg element being arranged to contact with said movable element whereby gum is applied thereto, and means whereby the gum applied to said movable element by said overlapping portion of said gum-distributing element may be removed therefrom, said means including a receptacle containing cleansing fluid through which said movable element passes, and a brush arranged to contact with said movable element.

11. A gumming mechanism for envelopemaking machines, comprising a gum-distributing element arranged to contact with an envelope blank at an edge portion thereof to apply gum thereto, said gum-distributing element being arranged to overlap the edge of the portion of the envelope blank to which gum is applied thereby to insure application of gum to the precise edge thereof, an intermittently operated endless belt between which and said gum-distributing element said envelope blank is interposed during the gumming operation, the portion of said gum-distributing element which overlaps the edge of said envelop-e blank being so arranged with respect to said endless belt that it contacts therewith and applies gum thereto, and means whereby said gum is removed'from said endcontaining a cleansing fluid through which said endless belt passes, and a rotary brush arranged to contact with said endless belt and scrub the gum therefrom.

12. A gumming mechanism for envelopemaking machines, comprising a gum-distrib- V uting element arranged to contact with an 7 envelope blank at an edge portion thereof to apply gum thereto, said gum-distributing element being arranged to overlap the edge of the portion of the envelope blank to which gum is applied thereby to insure application of gum to the precise edge thereof, an intermittently operated endless belt between. which and said gum-distributing element said envelope blank is interposed during the gumming operation, the portion of said gum-distributing element which overlaps the edge of said envelope blank being so arranged with respect to said endless belt that it contacts therewith and applies gum thereto, and means whereby said gum is removed from said endless belt, said means including a receptacle containing a cleansing fluid through which said endless belt passes, and a rotary brush arranged to' contact With said endless belt and scrub the gum therefrom, said receptacle and said rotary brush being located at a point remote fromthe point at which the envelope blanks contact with said endless belt so that said endless belt may dry after the cleansing operation and before the cleansed portion thereof is again brought into contact with an envelope blank.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto afliX my signature.

CHARLES F. PFLANZE. 

